The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-29


him, and his brain was in whirl.
When he came to his senses he had
to relight his lamp. He looked at his
watch and found that his fainting fit
had lasted half an hour.
Half crazed as he was, there was
more necessity than ever for his W ork.
He took a drink from his brandy flask
and started in like a giant A place
was followed in the earth, and the two
bodies were jammed in. Then block
after block OF granite was laid, and the
mortar was lavishly applied.
The frantic man seemed to be gifted
with superhuman energy. BY day
light the work was finished. The de-
bris was gathered up and carried out
with the tools, the floor swept, and sew
eral empty barrels and boxes We're
brought down and placed against the
walls.
Gates felt like new man. He
dressed himself with care, and began
to move about In the city. Instead of
stunning companionship he sought it.
All the time he was on the alert. Was
he suspected This was the one ques-
ton that agitated his brain night and
day.
The disappearance of the two men
created no excitement, except perhaps
in their own companies. Gates roamed
among the Federal officers, but days
and weeks rollod by, and nothing oc-
Cured to alarm him.
One day happy thought struck him.
A neighbor desired to rent his house.
Why not let him have it, and go north
or west, or anywhere for a few years
until this horror was forgottenp
Fortunately it was easy to make safe
and satisfactory arrangements. Gates
turned over the house to his tenant,
and with the first quarters rent in his
| pocket, set his face northward.
Ill.
The war had been over ten years
when the wanderer returned. In his
absence he had prospered, and his face
wore the placid composure of a man
who had no past 10 regret, and no Sc
crets to hide from his fellow men.
| Gates demanded the house, and his
faithful tenant gave it up. The owner
furnished itcomfortably and moved in,
and appeared to be SO well pleased with
his surroundings that his old neigh.
bors were delighted.
II have seen every nook and corner
in the house except the cellar" re
marked a friend who was going ovel
the house with the proprietor.
'.The cellar!" exclaimed Gates. "Oh
yes. of course I'll show you that"
He led the way, and his companion
praised every thing in high terms.
1.-THE wall at this end" said he, sci
well built. but it is more massive thai
any other part Of the work. 1t wa
built to last forever.
"Just so." replied Gates, with dr.,
laugh. mo, don't mean that exactly
The supply of material was limited
and the mason used what he had. l an
satisfied with it"
But after the departure of his CUES
Gates scowled and shook his fist.
"Darn him for meddling foolr' h
said. what does he know about it
Suspicious, perhaps, and wants to pr
around here. Huml l must be on m
guard.
| The wretched man paced the floor
/ ut is the mystery of it and not tn
, deed" he continued, ''that weighs upo
my mind. I found a robber in m
lhouse and / slew him. There was n
! crime in that. But l had to bury tw
: men instead of one. Who was the SEE
. ond manp Who killed himp Ho,
came his body therep No living pei
7 son but myself could have entered tn
cellar. Pshawl am going over tn
+ same questions that have worried m
for the last ten years There is no e.
l PLANTATION, absolutely none, and am
< fool to go on this way"
: The visit to the cellar seemed to III
4 nerve Gates. and his health and spirit
began to decline.
!, A heavy rain storm set in, and Gatt
found himself alone one night Thel
was no danger of interruption in sue
| weather, as nobody would care to pa
a visit except in case of life an
death.
t II must see Them" cried Gate
n "and l will"
{ He went to the clubhouse where Il
e tools were stored, and then proceedt
to the cellar.
e twas as hard to tear down the wa
Q as it was to build it. but after awhi
n the worker succeeded in removing
g great mass of granite and mortar.
o Gates reached over back of the ws
It and pulled out skeleton covered wi
d tattered fragments of blue. He laid
on the floor.
!. sis that the man killed or Il
l. otherP" he whispered.
i Another pull, and the second skel
e ton rested by the side of the first.
k Il thought" gasped Gates. 9TH
d felt some thing else over there"
d He stretched out both hands behiI
If the wall and caught something. !
le dragged it out and threw it on t
Eoor
N Then he held up the lamp and star
h. wildly before him.
10 There were three skeletons on &
IN floor!
IS "One. two, three said Gates.
b. He rubbed hi. eyes and began
count again.
at "One. two. threei'